For second consecutive race, Ferrari's newest driver has had more pace than famed teammate

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc defied team orders to stay behind teammate Sebastian Vettel in the early stages of the Bahrain Grand Prix on March 31, causing potentially huge problems for the team.

For the second time in as many races, Ferrari issued Leclerc an order to play second fiddle to Vettel. At the season-opening race in Australia, Leclerc said that he held back because it would make no difference to the overall race for the team. Fourth and fifth places were secure but still, in the first race of the season it appeared unjust for Ferrari not to allow their drivers to race.

In Bahrain, Leclerc had taken the pole on Saturday and had been the fastest Ferrari driver for the majority of the weekend. A poor getaway saw him drop several places down the order, but these were quickly regained, and within a couple of laps he was onto the back of Vettel’s car.

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Broadcast over the television coverage was a message from Leclerc saying, “I’m quicker, guys.”

What was not broadcast was the response from Ferrari. “Stay there for two laps, stay there for two laps.”

Knowing that he had the pace, in just his second race for the team, Leclerc put his future on the line and ignored his instructions, passing Vettel just a few corners after receiving the message.

The problem now is, what does Ferrari do next?

Clearly, if Leclerc feels he has the pace, then he will attack and go for the win. Vettel equally is no stranger to disobeying team orders -- recall the infamous "multi 21" incident when at Red Bull in the 2013 Malaysian Grand Prix -- so Ferrari now has two drivers, it seems, who will take each other on in open combat.

It's a nightmare scenario for the team, but for fans it's a potential dream come true. Ferrari is known for having a clear No. 1 and No. 2 driver. Michael Schumacher was the best example of this, but Vettel has enjoyed similar preferential treatment in recent years. Prior to the start of this season, it had been said that Leclerc would have to back Vettel throughout the year.

For the future of the team, it is difficult to find an easy solution for Ferrari other than to bow to pressure from the fans and everyone connected to F1 who say, “Ferrari, please let them race.”